Frame for supporting juxtaposed endless belt conveyers



1951 J. c. JOHNSON ET AL 2,559,673

FRAME FOR SUPPORTING JUXTAPOSED ENDLESS BELT CONVEYERS BYW W 9 J. c. JOHNSON ET AL 2,569,673

FRAME FOR SUPPORTING JUXTAPOSED ENDLESS BELT CONVEYERS Filed June 5, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 W K. n'f/ZIF/VE H INVENTORS 6. JOH/YSO/I/ Patented Oct. 2, 1951 FRAME FOR SUPPORTING J'UXTAPOSED ENDLESS BELT CONVEY'E-R-S John C. Johnson, East Hempstead, N. .Y., and Walter H. Johnson, Newmanstown, Pa.

Application June 3, 1949,- Serial No. 96,843

10 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to conveyers and'particularly to conveyers for transferring assembled receptacleclosure caps from assembling machinesto adepository therefor and permitting an inspection of said receptacle closure caps during said transfer.

An object of the invention is to provide a frame for supporting a pair of juxtaposed endless belt conveyers whereby a pair of assembling machines aremounted in proximity with each other to reduce the amount of floor space usually required to mount said assembling machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide means to individually adjust a corresponding drum of the pair of endless belt conveyers to individually take up slack inthe conveyers.

Other objects and advantagesof the invention will be disclosed in the detailed description of the invention.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a plan view of the pair of belt conveyers of different, lengths associated with discharge means associated with the; pressure applying tables of the receptacle closure-cap assembling machines.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view lookingat the top of Figure l to, show means forisupporting the conveyers in elevated position.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the con enlarged scale, looking from the line 44 of- Figure 1 in the direction of the arrowsto show the. adjusting means for taking up slack in the conveyers.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 5-5 of Figural looking in the direction of the arrows. to show sliding mounting of juxtaposed bearings of corresponding drums of the conveyers.

The embodiment of the invention is shown ass sociated with a pair of rotating pressure applying tables partially shown at 5 and 6 in Figure. .1 of receptacle closure assembling machines: of the type shown in Patent No. 1,134,031 issuediMarch 30, 21915, to Robert G. Clark. The pressuretables have. an annular shelf to support receptacle closure caps C having a sealing pad. and/ or spot assembled therein placed under pressure .by spring actuated Plungers, (not shown) carried by the pressure applying tables and positioned byia cam (not shown) from the closure caps after a predetermined distance of rotational. the pressure tables to permit the finally assembledreceptacle closure caps to be removed from thetables 5, E6:

by a finger 1 mounted relative to each table; The fingers I remove the assembled closure caps from the tables 5, 6, onto a rotating table juxta--- posed to the periphery of the tables '5, '6, as shown; at 8 and 9, respectively, in Figure 1. The tables. 8,;9lare'arrangedwithmechanism IE] to dischargea row of. assembled closure caps onto a pair or juxtaposed conveyers II and I2, respectively; A description of the discharge mechanism It) isnotdeemed to be necessaryin view of the disclosure in PatentNo. 1,832,399 issued November 17, .1931; to John A. Johnson.

The conveyers II and I2 are of the endless b'elt type and are supported by a frame in juxtaposed relation to permit the saving of floor space.

The conveyer supporting frame comprises a transverse member 13 having enlarged end pertions'l4 and an angle portion 15 midway between and of the same depth as the end portions Hz. Side members Ifiand I! of the frame are provided of difi'erent lengths having a slot 18 extending longitudinally into one'end'of said members and said ends secured to the ends of the enlarged end portion M with the slots spanning perforated ear portions l9 projecting from the ends of theenlarged end portions. The side member I 6 longer than the side member I! and secured at the opposite end portion to a bracket 20 supporting the discharge table 8 by a connector 2-1; The end portion of the short side member I! op-iposite to the end secured to the enlarged end portion I4 issecured by a connector 22 to a bracket 2.3 -supportingr the discharge table 9. An inter.- m'ediatemember of the frame is arranged in sec-- tions 24 and 25, the ends of section 24 being setcured by connectors 26 and 21 to the discharge tablesupporting brackets 20 and 23, respectively, as shown in Figure 1. One end of the in-termee diate section 25 is secured to the table bracket 23 by a connecttor 28 and the opposite end of secs tion 25 is arranged with an elongated slot 29 extending in from said end a distance greater than the lengthof" the slots I8 to span the transverse member [3 with the bordering material of said section 25 secured to the angle portion H: of the transverse member IS.

The endless belt conveyer II is supported between :a drum 30 fixed to a shaft rotatably supported in the table supporting bracket 20; as shown at 3'! in Figures 1 and 2, and a drumiii rotatably mounted between the side member It and intermediate member section 25 by a shaft 33 secured to the drum and rotatably supported at the-opposite end portions in bracket bearings ad justablelongitudinally of said frame members;

The endless belt conveyer I2 is supported between a drum 33 fixed on a shaft rotatably supported at the opposite end portions in bearings in the table supporting bracket 23, as shown at 34 in Figure 1, and a drum 35 secured to a shaft 36 having the opposite end portions rotatably mounted in brackets adjustable longitudinally of the intermediate member section 25 and side member H.

The adjustable mounting of the drum shaft 33 is accomplished by one end portion of said shaft 33 being rotatably supported in a bearing bracket comprising a slide 31 slidable in the slot I8 in the long side member I6 and having a tubular bearing member 38 secured to and extended from the outer face of the slide at one end thereof for rotatably supporting the end portion of the drum shaft 33. At the opposite end of the outer face of the slide 31, there is provided an internally screw threaded lug 39 for the adjustable engagement of an adjusting screw 40 rotatably mounted in an ear portion I9 of the transverse member I3 and having a manipulating member in the form of a hand knob 4I secured to the end of the screw projecting from the outer face of the ear portion IS. The opposite end portion of the drum shaft 33 is rotatably and adjustably supported by a slide 42 slidably in the slot 29 of the intermediate member section 25 and having a dovetail groove 43 in one face and a tubular bearing member 44 and an internally screw threaded lug 45 at the opposite end portions of the opposite face of the slide, as shown in Figures 1 and 5. Said opposite end portion of the shaft 33 is rotatably supported by the tubular bearing member 44 and the lug 45 is adjustably connected to adjusting means. Said adjusting means comprises a shaft in the form of a lead screw 46 rotatably supported at one end portion by a bearing 47 secured to one face of the intermediate member section 25 and adjustably connected at the opposite end portion with the internal screw threads of the lug 45. The end of the first end portion of the lead screw 46 extends from the bearing 41 and is provided with a worm 48 fixed thereto and meshing with a worm 46 secured to one end portion of a shaft 56 rotatable at said end portion in a bearing I mounted in the intermediate member section 25. The opposite end portion of the shaft 50 is rotatably supported in a bearing 52 secured in the side member I6 with the end of the shaft projecting from the exterior face of the side member I6 and provided with a manipulating member in the form of a hand knob 53 secured thereto, as shown in Figure l.

The adjustable mounting of the drum shaft 36 is similar to that of the drum shaft 33 and comprises a slide 54 slidable in the slot I8 in the short side member I! and having on the outer face at the opposite end portions thereof a tubular bearing member 55 and an internally screw threaded lug 56. The tubular bearing member 55 rotatably supports the outer end portion of the drum shaft 36 and the lug 56 is adjustably engaged by one end portion of an adjusting screw 51 rotatably mounted at the opposite end portion in the adjacent ear portion I9 of the transverse member I3. A manipulating member in the form of a hand knob 58 is secured to the end of the screw 51 extending from the exterior face of the ear portion I9. Th inner end portion of the drum shaft 36 is adjustably and rotatably supported by a slide 59 having beveled side edge portions to slidably engage the dovetail groove 43 inthe slide 42 and a tubular bearing member 60 and an internally screw threaded lug 6I at the opposite end portions of the face of less width of said slide 59. The bearing member rotatably supports the inner end of the drum shaft 36 and the lug 6I is adjustably connected to adjusting means. Said adjusting means comprises a shaft in the form of a lead screw 62 adjustably engaged at one end portion in the lug 6| and the opposite end portion of the lead screw 62 rotatably supported in a bearing 63 mounted on the face of the intermediate member section 25 opposite to the face on which the bearing 41 is secured, as shown in Figure 1. A worm 64 is secured on the end portion of the lead screw 62 extending from the bracket 63 in meshing engagement with a worm 65 secured on an end portion of a shaft 66 projecting from the intermediate member section 25 and a bearing 61 secured to said section and in which said end portion of the shaft 66 is rotatably supported. The opposite end of the shaft 66 is rotatably supported in a bearing 68 mounted in th long side member I6 with the end of the, shaft 66 extending from the exterior face of said bearing and the long side member I6 provided with a manipulating member in the form of a hand knob 69 secured thereon.

The slack in the belt conveyers II and I2 is taken up by adjusting the hand knobs 4|, 53, 58 and 69.

The mounting of the inner end portions of the drum shafts 33 and 36 by the telescoping slides 42, 59 permits the mounting of the belt conveyers in juxtaposed position.

The upper stretch of the short belt conveyer I2 is supported, and the short side member I1 and intermediate member section 25 are braced by a rectangular plate I0 having the side marginal portions bent downwardly at right angles and secured to the short side member I1 and the intermediate member section 25, as indicated in section at II in Figure 1.

The upper stretch of the long belt conveyer I I is supported, and the long side member I6 and intermediate member sections 24, 25 are braced by a plurality of rectangular plates I2 having the side marginal portions bent downwardly at right angles and secured to the long side member I6 and intermediate member sections 24, 25, asshown in section at I3 in Figure 1. In the present instance there are shown two of said plates I2 but the number of plates may be varied depending on the length of the conveyer II.

The conveyer supporting frame members I3, I6, I1, 24 and 25 are mainly supported in elevated position by the discharge table supporting brackets 20 and 23. Said frame members are additionally supported by a pair of legs I4 secured at one end to the long side member I6 and the intermediate member section 25 and said legs are braced :by a cross member I5 secured at the opposite end portions to said legs and braces I6 secured at one end portion to the legs and at the opposite end portion to the long side member I6 and the intermediate member section 25, as shown in Figure 2.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a frame for supporting a pair of juxtaposed endless belt conveyers of different lengths, a transverse member at the delivery portion of the conveyers, two side members of different lengths, each side member connected at one end to an end portion of the transverse member, an intermediate member in two sections of a length equal to the long sid member and connected at one end to an intermediate portion of the transverse member, a drum to support the receiving portion of the long conveyer rotatably supported on a fixed axis adjacent the end portions of the long side member and the intermediate member opposite the ends connected to the transverse member, a second drum to support the receiving portion of the short conveyer rotatably supported on a fixed axis adjacent the end portion of the short side member opposite the end connected to the transverse member and between the sections of the intermediate member, and a pair of drums to support the delivery portions of both conveyers rotatably mounted between the end portions of the side and intermediate members connected to the transverse member on axes adjustable longitudinally of the side and intermediate members to individually take up slack in the conveyers.

2. A frame for supportin a pair of juxtaposed endless belt conveyers of different lengths as claimed in claim 1, wherein the axes of the pair of drums are adjustable longitudinally of the side and intermediate members by a shaft for each drum, bearing brackets slidably supported by the side and intermediate members and arranged to rotatably support the opposite end portions of said shafts, and means supported by the transverse, long side and intermediate members and adjustably connected to the bearing brackets to individually adjust each bearing bracket longitudinally of the side and intermediate members.

3. A frame for supporting a pair of juxtaposed endless belt conveyers of different lengths as claimed in claim 2, wherein two of the bearing brackets are slidably supported by the intermediate member and each of the other two bearing brackets are slidably supported on the side members, the means for adjusting the bearing brackets slidably supported on the intermediate member are supported by the long side and intermediate members, and the means for adjusting the other two bearing brackets are supported by the transverse member.

4. A frame for supporting a pair of juxtaposed endless belt conveyers of different lengths as claimed in claim 3, wherein one of the two bearing brackets supported by the intermediate member comprises a slide having a tubular bearing member extending from a face and a groove in the opposite face thereof and slidably mounted in a slot in the intermediate member, and the other of said two bearing brackets comprises a second slide slidably mounted in the groove in the first slide with one face of said second slide exposed and having a tubular bearing member extending from the exposed face thereof.

5. A frame for supporting a pair of juxtaposed endless belt conveyers of different lengths as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tubular bearing member of the first slide supports one end portion of the shaft of the drum supporting the delivery portion of the long conveyer, and the tubular bearing member of the second slide supports one end portion of the shaft of the drum supporting the delivery portion of the short conveyer.

6. A frame for supporting a pair of juxtaposed endless belt conveyers of different lengths as claimed in claim 5, wherein the tubular bearing members are arranged at one end portion of the slides, and an internally screw threaded lug is extended from the face of each slide arranged with the tubular bearing member at the opposite end of the slides to adjustably connect the slides to the adjusting means for said two bearing brackets supported by the intermediate member.

7. A frame for supporting a pair of juxtaposed endless belt conveyers of different lengths as claimed in claim 6, wherein the adjusting means supported by the long side and intermediate members comprise a pair of shafts rotatably supported by said long side and intermediate members and having manipulating members secured on the ends of said shafts extending from the exterior face of the long side member, and a second pair of shafts rotatably supported by the opposite faces of the intermediate member and each of said second pair of shafts having one end operatively connected to a corresponding shaft of the first pair of shafts and the opposite end portion screw threaded for adjustable engagement with the screw threads of the lug of a corresponding slide of said twobearing brackets supported by the intermediate member.

8. A- frame for supporting a pair of juxtaposed endless belt conveyers of different lengths as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the two bearing brackets slidably supported on the side members comprises a slide slidably mounted in a slot in a side member and having a tubular bearing member and an internally screw threaded lug on the same face and at opposite end portions of said slide, the tubular bearing member rotatably supporting the end of the shaft of a drum opposite to the end rotatably supported by the pair of bearing brackets supported by the intermediate member, and the screw threads of the lug adjustably engaged by the adjusting means supported by the transverse member.

9. A frame member for a pair of juxtaposed endless belt conveyers of different lengths as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the adjusting means supported by the transverse member comprises an adjusting screw rotatably supported at an end portion of the transverse member and having a manipulating member secured on the end portion of the screw extending from the exterior face of the transverse member and the opposite end portion adjustably engaged with the screw threads in the lug of a corresponding bearing bracket supported by the side members.

10. In a frame for supporting a pair of juxtaposed endless belt conveyers of different lengths as claimed in claim 9, a single plate secured at opposite edge portions to the opposed faces of the short side member and a section of the intermediate member to support the upper stretch of the short conveyer, and a plurality of plates secured at the opposite edge portions to the opposed faces of the long side and intermediate members to support the upper stretch of the long conveyer.

JOHN C. JOHNSON. WALTER H. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 712,533 Hewlett Nov. 4, 1902 915,425 Gerstkemper Mar. 16, 1909 1,391,704 Sturtevant Sept. 27, 1921 1,925,022 Francis Aug. 29, 1933 

